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approved； and stabilised by being reduced to documentary form。 In
some sense they were then written into the constitution of
civilised society； and they have continued to make up the nucleus
of the document from that time forth； and so they have become
inflexible； after the fashion of written constitutions。
In the sight of those generations who so achieved the
definite acceptance of these enlightened modern principles； and
who finally made good their formal installation in law and usage
as self…balanced canons of human conduct； the principles which
they so arrived at had all the sanction of Natural Law；
impersonal； dispassionate； indefeasible and immutable；
fundamentally and eternally right and good。 That generation of
men held 〃these truths to be self…evident〃； and they have
continued so to be held since that epoch by all those peoples who
make up the effectual body of modern civilisation。 And the
backward peoples； those others who have since then been coming
into line and making their claim to a place in the scheme of
modern civilised life； have also successively been accepting and
（passably） assimilating the same enlightened principles of clean
and honest living。 Christendom； as a going concern of civilised
peoples； has continued to regulate its affairs by the help of
these principles； which are still held to be a competent
formulation of the aspirations of civilised mankind。 So that
these modern principles of the eighteenth century； stabilised in
documentary form a hundred and fifty years ago； have stood over
in immutable perfection until our time；a monument more enduring
than brass。
These principles are of the nature of habits of thought； of
course； and it is the nature of habits of thought forever to
shift and change in response to the changing impact of
experience； since they are creatures of habituation。 But inasmuch
as they have once been stabilised in a thoroughly competent
fashion in the eighteenth century； and have been drafted into
finished documentary form； they have been enabled to stand over
unimpaired into the present with all that weight and stability
that a well…devised documentary formulation will give。 It is
true； so far as regards the conditions of civilised life during
the interval that has passed since these modern principles of law
and custom took on their settled shape in the eighteenth century；
it has been a period of unexampled change； swift； varied；
profound and extensive beyond example。 And it follows of
necessity that the principles of conduct which were approved and
stabilised in the eighteenth century； under the driving
exigencies of that age； have not altogether escaped the
complications of changing circumstances。 They have at least come
in for some shrewd interpretation in the course of the nineteenth
century。 There have been refinements of definition； extensions of
application； scrutiny and exposition of implications； as new
exigencies have arisen and the established canons have been
required to cover unforeseen contingencies； but it has all been
done with the explicit reservation that no material innovation
shall be allowed to touch the legacy of modern principles handed
down from the eighteenth century； and that the vital system of
Natural Rights installed in the eighteenth century must not be
deranged at any point or at any cost。
It is scarcely necessary to describe this modern system of
principles that still continues to govern human intercourse among
the civilised peoples； or to attempt an exposition of its
constituent articles。 It is all to be had in exemplary form； ably
incorporated in such familiar documents as the American
Declaration of Independence； the French Declaration of the Rights
of Man； and the American Constitution； and it is all to be found
set forth with all the circumstance of philosophical and juristic
scholarship in the best work of such writers as John Locke。
Montesquieu。 Adam Smith； or Blackstone。 It has all been
sufficiently canvassed； through all its dips； spurs and angles；
by the most competent authorities； who have brought their best
will and their best abilities to bear on its elucidation at every
point； with full documentation。 Besides which； there is no need
of recondite exposition for the present purpose； since all that
is required by the present argument is such a degree of
information on these matters as is familiar to English…speaking
persons by common notoriety。
At the same time it may be to the purpose to call to mind
that this secular profession of faith enters creatively into that
established order of things which has now fallen into a state of
havoc because it does not meet the requirements of the new order。
This eighteenth…century modern plan specifically makes provision
for certain untoward rights； perquisites and disabilities which
have； in the course of time and shifting circumstance； become
incompatible with continued peace on earth and good…will among
men。
There are two main counts included in this modern
eighteenth…century plan； which appear unremittingly to make
for discomfort and dissension under the conditions offered by the
New Order of things： National Ambition； and the Vested Rights
of ownership。 Neither of the two need be condemned as being
intrinsically mischievous。 Indeed； it may be true； as has often
been argued； that both have served a good purpose in their due
time and place； at least there is no need of arguing the
contrary。 Both belong in the settled order of civilised life； and
both alike are countenanced by those principles of truth； equity
and validity that go to make up the modern point of view。 It is
only that now； as things have been turning during the later one
hundred years； both of these immemorially modern rights of man
have come to yield a net return of hardship and ill…will for all
those peoples who have bound up their fortunes with that kind of
enterprise。 The case might be stated to this effect； that the
fault lies not in the nature of these untoward institutions of
national sovereignty and vested rights； nor in those principles
of self…help which underlie them； but only in those latter…day
facts which stubbornly refuse to fall into such lines as these
forms of human enterprise require for their perfect and
beneficent working。 The facts； particularly the facts of industry
and science； have outrun these provisions of law and custom； and
so the scheme of things has got out of joint by that much；
through no inherent weakness in the underlying principles of law
and custom。 The ancient and honorable principles of self…help are
as sound as ever； it is only that the facts have quite
unwarrantably not remained the same。 The fault lies in the
latter…day facts； which have not continued in suitable shape。
Such； in effect； has been the view habitually spoken for by many
thoughtful persons of a conservative turn； who take an interest
in concerting measures for holding fast that which once was good；
in the face of distasteful facts。
The vested right of ownership in all kinds of property has
the sanction of the time…honored principles of individual
self…direction； equal opportunity； free contract； security of
earnings and belongings； self…help； in the simple and honest
meaning of the word。 It would be quite bootless to find fault
with these reasonable principles of tolerance and security。 Their
definitive acceptance and stabilisation in the eighteenth century
are among the illustrious achievements of Western civilisation；
and their roots lie deep in the native wisdom of mankind。 They
are obvious corollaries under the rule of Live and let live；
an Accidental version of the Golden Rule。 Yet in practical effect
those vested rights which rest blamelessly on these reasonable
canons of tolerance and good faith have today become the focus of
vexation and misery in the life of the civilised peoples。
Circumstances have changed to such effect that provisions which
were once framed to uphold a system of neighborly good…will have
now begun to run counter to one another and are working mischief
to the common good。
Any impartial survey of the past one…hundred…fifty years will
show that the constituent principles of this modern point of view
governing the mutual rights and obligations of men within the
civilised nations have held their ground； on the whole； without
material net gain or net loss。 It is the ground of Natural
Rights； of self…help and free bargaining。 Civil rights and the
perquisites and obligations of ownership have remained
substantially intact over this interval of a hundred and fifty
years； but with some slight advance in the way of Live and let
live at certain points； and some slight retrenchment at other
points。 So far as regards the formal stipulations； in law and
custom； the balance of class interests within these countries
has； on the whole； not been seriously disturbed。 In this system
of Natural Rights； as it has worked out in practice； the rights
of ownership are paramount； largely because the other personal
r